“We had a lot of fun brining this story to life,” says Ma’atunde. “We all took a trip down memory lane as each song intersects and takes us further along these character’s journey.”

Five friends find solace in their sisterly bond and take a musical and historical journey through the songs that were anthems marking social change, and that resonated with the thoughts and emotions of women all over the world. These five women: (four Black, one white) come together after Grandma dies, to go over all her things. They must choose one song to sing at the Memorial that night.

While the friends sift through memories and confront one another, songs are introduced going back to the time of the Black Blues singers all the way up to modern hip-hop. The music's trajectory goes from "Naming the Pain" (A Good Man is Hard to Find) to "Framing the Problem" (I am Not My Hair), to "Proclaiming the Joy" (Just Fine and Golden). This play parallels the story of African-American women and their emerging sense of empowerment.

Sistas: The Musical features an all-female cast accompanied by a live band off stage.

“We want to bring the audience into that attic with these women,” says Ma’atunde.

The Ensemble Theatre was founded in 1976 by the late George Hawkins to preserve African American artistic expression and enlighten, entertain and enrich a diverse community. In addition to being the oldest and largest professional African American theatre in the Southwest, it also holds the distinction of being one of the nation's largest African American theatres that owns and operates its facility with an in-house production team.

The Ensemble Theatre produces a main stage season of six contemporary and classic works devoted to the portrayal of the African American experience by local and national playwrights and artists. The theatre’s Performing Arts Education program provides educational workshops, Artist-in-Residence experiences and live performances for students both off-site and at the theatre; and the Young Performers Program offers intensive summer training for children ages 6 to 17 encompassing instruction in all disciplines of the theatre arts.

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The Ensemble Theatre Celebrated a Night to “Elevate the Arts”

Artists Crystal Fox and Lamman Rucker Received
Actress and Actor of the Year Award

HOUSTON (August 20, 2018) – The Ensemble Theatre celebrated its 2018 Celebrity Black Tie Gala - Elevating the Arts! at the Hilton Americas-Houston, Saturday, August 18, 2018. Lead sponsors: H-E-B; Shell, BP America, Inc, United, Bracewell LLP, Frost Bank, Andrea and Jarvis Hollingsworth, Wendy and Vince Armstrong, were joined by a host of devoted corporations and individuals who continue to invest in the advancement of the theatre’s mission to enlighten, entertain, and enrich diverse audiences. The Gala serves as the theatre's major fundraiser supporting its annual $2 million operating budget that includes six mainstage season productions, and its educational initiatives directed toward youth. The theatre’s board of directors and staff welcomed more than 400 esteemed donors and supporters.

This year’s honorees included: Crystal Fox, Actress of the Year; Lamman Rucker, Actor of the Year; Wendy Armstrong, Rising Star Award; The Creuzot Family, Community Partner of the Year; and United Airlines, Corporate Partner of the Year. A special honor was given to David Bray for more than 15 years of volunteer service as the theatre’s photographer.

Actress Crystal Fox, known by many through her most visible work to date, starring as Hanna Young in (the ONE and ONLY) Tyler Perry’s The Haves and the Have Nots, shared a personal testimony of why she chose acting as her career and made a declaration for attendees to continue to support the arts.

“I took this career path because I wanted to give voice to the voiceless,” said Fox. “If we can be this fabulous at a gala, we have to be this fabulous in producing our work…continue to put your money behind The Ensemble Theatre so they may continue to be place where voices can be heard.”

Lamman Rucker, who is currently recognized for his starring role in the OWN TV Network show Greenleaf as Jacob Greenleaf, paid homage to ancestors and living elders who paved the way for today’s actors before sharing a personal story of his parents’ work as artists, and how they influenced his commitment to the arts.

“Thank you to God, our ancestors, and our living elders who fought so we could all gather in a place like this,” said Rucker. “It is now our responsibility and our focus on having the vehicle to liberate us through the authenticity of our stories.”

The evening began with a Mayor’s reception and silent auction including VIP sporting event tickets, exotic travel packages, and autographed sports memorabilia. ~More~
An elegant jubilee was the essence of this luxurious styled gala. Blushing orange and warm red infused with gold was the palette for the tablescape décor with lush floral arrangements. The room was accented by multi-height mirror tower ensembles holding billows of colorful blooms.

Two oversized HD movie screens displayed a pictorial tribute to Aretha Franklin as attendees watched and applauded. A photo montage filled with highlights of productions from the previous season showed throughout the evening.

The Ensemble Theatre was founded in 1976 by the late George Hawkins to preserve African American artistic expression and enlighten, entertain and enrich a diverse community. In addition to being hailed as the oldest and largest professional African American theatre in the Southwest, it also holds the distinction of being one of the nation's largest African American theatres that owns and operates its facility with an in-house production team.

The Ensemble Theatre produces a main stage season of six contemporary and classic works devoted to the portrayal of the African American experience by local and national playwrights and artists. The theatre’s Performing Arts Education program provides educational workshops, Artist-in-Residence experiences and live performances for students both off-site and at the theatre; and the Young Performers Program offers intensive summer training for children ages 6 to 17 encompassing instruction in all disciplines of the theatre arts.